Operation Benefit: Fashion show salutes troops with fundraiser

Two hundred students, parents and teachers crowded the Large Gym and clapped vigorously as student models strutted their colorful tastes in fashion down the runway during the 10th Annual Benefit Fashion Show on March 7. The show exceeded expectations this year, making over $6,000 in ticket sales alone, which is far more than in previous years.

This year, the Benefit Fashion Show raised money for the Fisher House Foundation, which provides soldiers’ and veterans’ families with free housing. The head commissioners this year, seniors Uma Kumar, Emily Penuen, Megan Marshall, Jennifer McAfee and Jessica Uong and junior Sabrina Clark, wanted to give to a smaller charity than they had in previous years to ensure that their donation would make a bigger difference.

“We really wanted to focus on giving back to military members and veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” Penuen said. “We believe that the money we raised will go to a good cause in supporting wounded military members.”

The entire show reflected the military theme, with models dressed in camouflaged Benefit Fashion Show shirts and a Navy Flag hanging in the room outside the Large Gym.

Stores including Banana Republic, Tuxedo Wearhouse and Kitsch Couture sponsored the show by providing clothes for the models to wear. Additionally, other stores provided small items for the silent auction gift baskets. The show also had a Bollywood theme for the first time this year, where parents and community members provided their old clothes for the models.

“Stores let students wear their clothes in exchange for advertising,” Penuen said. “Parents were also really nice to let Bollywood models wear their old clothes during the show because without them, the theme wouldn’t have been able to happen.”

The show starred around 150 student models, and the event was coordinated by the commissioners and activities director Rebecca Marshburn.

Students were divided into ten groups: Toga Wear, Outdoor, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Beach, Girls’ Night Out, Boho, Bromance, First Date, Bollywood and Prom. Each group was led by theme heads, who helped the commissioners organize the models. The theme students were put into depended on a combination of grade level, previous experience with the show and personal preference.

“I have been in Benefit all three years since I was a freshman and my favorite part of Benefit this year was the actual performance and just hanging out backstage with the girls who were in it,” said junior Erin Norris, who was one of the theme heads for Boho.

Planning for the show began in February when the heads of each theme and the commissioners asked different stores to provide clothes to support the show. Once stores agreed, models were instructed to go get fitted for the clothes on specified dates a few weeks before the show.

“We started prepping for the show as soon as we knew who was in our group,” Norris said. “We had to make sure our group members knew where to go for fittings and make sure that they were matching the theme.”

Ticket costs ranged from $10 for general admission with ASB, to $35 for front row VIP seating with complimentary snacks and refreshments. A silent auction held after the show with prizes including gift baskets, a three-month membership to the Bay Club for a family of four and an iPad. Despite some initial minor setup issues, the show ran smoothly without any mistakes or malfunctions.

“[The show] was really successful,” Kumar said. “There were some problems setting up like there weren't enough curtains or skirts for the stage but we bought more and improvised.”

The show gave students a chance to be a model and show off clothes from their favorite store or fashion style.

“Walking the ramp was my favorite part of the show, because this is probably my only time and opportunity to be and act like a model,” junior Kimberly Chen said.